Normally, the feathers of the long-eared owl appear white and brown. But scientists from Northern Michigan University have observed that the bird’s plumage glows bright pink under ultraviolet (UV) light. The owl’s feathers are fluorescent! They have the ability to absorb one form of light and emit another.
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Pink Wings!
PAGE 6: JAH/ALAMY STOCK PHOTO
CHRIS NERI
GLOW IN THE DARK: The wings of the long-eared owl fluoresce when exposed to ultraviolet light.
For the first time, researchers extracted and measured the amounts of fluorescent pigments in the feathers. They found that these colored substances are more concentrated in females’ feathers than in males’. The glow also dims as the owls age.
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